Hmong celebrate New Year

STOCKTON - Hundreds gathered at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds on Saturday for the Stockton Hmong New Year Festival, a two-day event hosted by Lao Family Community Empowerment Inc.

Jason Anderson

STOCKTON - Hundreds gathered at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds on Saturday for the Stockton Hmong New Year Festival, a two-day event hosted by Lao Family Community Empowerment Inc.

The celebration is a cultural tradition that brings together members of Hmong communities from throughout the state and beyond. Festivities included musical performances and traditional dances. According to the Lao Family of Stockton website, scholarships are given to students and donations made to families in crisis.

"I like coming to watch the dance competitions and because it's a chance for us to reunite," said Mimi Her, a 21-year-old Stockton resident. "It's a place where relatives come together - kind of like a big family reunion."

Revelers were nicely attired with many adult males sporting suits and women wearing colorful gowns adorned with sequins, coins and other intricate embellishments.

"Some of the costumes are more traditional, and some of the youngsters want to be more modern," Her said.

Boys and girls don't engage in a traditional Hmong ball-tossing game as much as they used to, but the festival still offers an opportunity for courtship.

"A lot of people do meet their spouses here," said Nou Vang, a 24-year-old Stockton resident.

The fairgrounds were lined with booths where sponsors handed out information while vendors sold food, clothing, jewelry, toys and other items. Na Chao, a Fresno resident who sold sugar cane, said the New Year represents "new beginnings," adding that the festival is "a great thing for the Hmong people."

Soua Yang, a 29-year-old Stockton woman, agreed.

"It represents a brand-new year for our Hmong culture," she said. "It's like the American New Year, but more traditional with the clothing and all the artifacts."